Nonskid device for automobiles



Sept. 8, 1925v C. H. CHAMBERLAIN NONSKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan: 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1925 C. H. CHAMBERLAIN NONSKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z &@ x a U m O. Q Q v m\ Q o 1 n FQ w J H MEH HU Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. CHAMBERLAIN, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

N ONSKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed January 29, 1925. Serial No. 5,608.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. CHAMBER- LAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nonskid Devices for Automobiles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention aims to provide a rather simple and inexpensive, yet an efficient and reliable device for attachment to automobiles and capable of being brought into play at any desired instant, to either prevent skidding of the machine or to check such skidding, if slippage has taken place before the device can be brought into play, the invention being also of advantage toprevent idle spinning of the wheels in mud or upon any slippery surface.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section showing the spikes which are mounted on a' driving wheel, in retracted position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the spikes are pro-' jected for use.

Figure 3 is a vertical section as indicated Fig. 2, illustrating the manner in which the spikes may yield inwardly when engaging a hard surface.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates an outer ring which is adapted to be secured to a driving wheel of an automobile, bolts 2 being preferably employed to secure said ring to the wheel felly. Within and spaced from the ring 1, is an inner ring 3 which is preferably formed of channel metal, with its channel facing the axis of the wheel. The two rings 1 and 3 are provided with radially alined openings 4, and a plurality of spikes 5 pass slidably through these openings, said spikes having lateral stops 6 between the rings. Coiled compression springs 7 surround the spikes between the stops 6 and the outer ring 1 and they normally exert their pressure to retract the spikes to posi- 8 will always assume the proper positions.

At 9, an annular expansible track is shown, said track being formed of a strip of spring metal having overlapped ends 10 and, 11. The outer end 10 isconnected by a pivot 12 or other desired means, with a bracket 13 whichv may be of any desired form and secured to any stationary part of the machine adjacent the wheel. In the construction illustrated, the lower end of the bracket 13 is suitably shaped and is attached to the automobile axle housing. by bolts 14. A transverse rod 15 is connected at one of its ends with the inner end 11 of the track-forming strip, the opposite end of this rod being in most instances similarly associated with an expansibletrack for the opposite driving wheel. Any suitable means may be provided for laterally moving the rod 15, so as to slide the end 11 outwardly, thereby expanding the track 9 as shown in Fig. 2 and projecting the spikes 5 beyond the tread of the tire. In the present disclosure, a longitudinal rod 16 has been shown connected at its rear end with the rod 15, while its front end is connected with an appropriate lever 17, disposed within easy reach of the driver, so that he can at any instant pull upon said lever, thus expanding the track 9 and projecting the spikes 5, to either prevent or checkskidding of the machine or idle spinning of the wheels.

Especial attention is directed to the fact that by having the track 9 formed of spring metal, the projected spikes may yield inwardly as shown in Fig. 4 when they engage a hard roadway, such as a macadam highway or an asphalt street. Regardless of this inward yielding, the pointed outer ends of the spikes are held down with suflicient force to obtain the desired results. Ordinarily, the springs 7 retract the spikes 5 until the stops G-engage the inner ring 3, and when the spikes are in this po- 'sition, their rollers 8 are preferably spaced outwardly to a. slight extent from the track 9. The springs 7 are always under compression and they thus serve to hold the spikes against rattling and act to immediately retract said spikes whenever the track is contracted. Due to the shaping 01 this track, its upper portion will be more or less in dented when the track is expanded, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Nevertheless, as the stops 6 limit the inward movement of the spikes 5, there is no danger of the rollers 8 accidentally catching upon either end of the track, whether the machine is proceeding forwardly or rearwardly.

As excellent results may be obtained from the construction shown, it may well be tollowed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous modifica tions may be made, and obviously the invention may be used upon all sorts of motor vehicles.

I claim: j

1. An anti-skidding device for automobile wheels comprising a plurality of spikes,

means for slidably mounting said spikes on a wheel in radial relation with the latter, means associated with said spikes for normally retracting the latter to positions at which their outer ends are inwardly spaced from the tread of the wheel tire, an expansible annular track adapted to engage the inner endsof the spikes, means for noni'otata'bly mounting said track, and means for expanding said track to project the spikes beyond thetire tread.

2. An anti-skidding device for automo bile wheels comprising a plurality of spikes, means for slidably mounting said spikes on a wheel in radial relation with the latter, means associated with said spikes for nor mally retracting the later to positions at which their outer ends are inwardly spaced from the tread of the wheel tire, a spring metal strip bent into the form of an annular track and having overlapped ends, said track being disposed at the inner ends of said spikes for engagement with the latter, a bracket adapted for stationary mounting ona' part of themac'hine adjacent the wheel, a connection between the outer end of the aforesaid spring metal strip and said bracket, and an operating member connected to the inner end of said strip for moving the same to expand the track and project the aforesaid spikes.

4 3, An anti-skiddingdevice comprising an outer ring adapted tobe secured to a wheel, a comparatively smaller innerr-ing adapted also for attachment to the wheel, said inner ing being formed of channel metal with its channel facing the wheel axis, the two rings having radially aligned openings, radial spikes passing slidably through saidopenin'gs, means to normally retract said spikes, an annular e'i pan'sible track within the channel of said inner ring and adapted to engage the inner ends of the spikes, means for non-rotatably mounting said track and means for expandi'ngthe same to project the spikes beyond the the tread.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES H. CHAMBERLAIN. 

